Stoke-on-Trent Bus Services Receive Additional £9.8 Million Funding

Bus services throughout Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit from an additional investment of nearly £10 million. The Department for Transport has allocated £9.868 million to the city council, designated to enhance public transport operations within the city and its surrounding areas. The council stated its intention to “build on the success” of its existing Bus Service Improvement Plan. This plan previously led to the implementation of discounted fares, improvements to bus stops, the installation of CCTV, and the provision of real-time bus arrival information. Although the council awaits further directives regarding the utilization of the grant, Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker expressed his eagerness to engage with local residents to guarantee ongoing community connectivity. This recent financial allocation supplements the £31 million previously granted to the council for its improvement plan, a scheme that has been operational in collaboration with local bus operators since 2022. Councillor Gordon-McCusker commented: “We are committed to improving public transport and making it as easy as possible for residents to get around the city. “We want to improve our local bus services and give residents a viable alternative to driving, to help improve air quality and reduce congestion. We have made substantial progress through our Bus Service Improvement Plan but we know that we still have a long way to go.”